Daw Global Weekly Company Brief: Week Commencing: 30 March 2026

The Role of Clear Documentation and Information in Effective Onboarding: Insights by Richard Picton-Turbervill – Co-Founder & Director

A smooth and compliant onboarding process depends on the accuracy and clarity of the information provided at the point of application. Financial institutions must assess business models, ownership structures, licensing frameworks and operational activity in a thorough and structured manner. This assessment can only be completed efficiently when the information supplied is complete and transparent from the outset.

Clear documentation removes the need for repeated requests and enables due diligence to progress without interruption.

This requirement becomes even more significant when dealing with clients operating in complex or heavily regulated sectors. Entities active in offshore gambling, jurisdictions with heightened scrutiny, or industries requiring specialised licensing naturally face deeper regulatory examination. These businesses often operate under licensing and regulatory obligations that require detailed verification before an account can be activated.

When applicants provide detailed information early in the process, it enables compliance teams to form a clear understanding of the entity’s activities and overall regulatory positioning.

Reliable onboarding outcomes rely on transparency. Complete and consistent information at the application stage establishes a stronger foundation for long-term banking relationships and supports clients operating within demanding regulatory environments.

Q1 2026 – Overview: Insights by Euan Maskell – Co-Founder & Director

Q1 2026 recorded a marked increase in activity across offshore licensed broker-dealers, particularly those operating under licence regimes in Mauritius, Seychelles, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Comoros, Saint Lucia, the British Virgin Islands and Vanuatu.

These jurisdictions continued to perform as expected, driven by sustained demand from companies expanding their international trading models. The pace of the quarter was significantly elevated, supported by multiple industry events that generated extensive follow-up discussions and client engagements. This, in turn, placed additional pressure on day-to-day operations.

To maintain consistency in service delivery, the business development and strategy team was expanded to support the increased workload.

The main theme of the quarter was the volume of new onboardings across both broker-dealer and iGaming clients. Within the iGaming sector, Malta, Curaçao and Anjouan remained the most active jurisdictions. This reflects continued interest from operators seeking international licences aligned with cross-border fiat and digital activity.

These jurisdictions collectively shaped the direction of the first quarter, with growth patterns largely in line with expectations and supported by steady demand from both established entities and new market entrants.

Q2 2026 – Expectations and Strategic Focus: Insights by Martin Van Lessen – Strategic Partner

Q2 2026 is expected to follow similar demand patterns to Q1, with offshore licensed broker-dealers and iGaming operators remaining the most active client groups.

Alongside these core sectors, further growth is anticipated across additional key areas, including:

1. Crypto-related payment entities
2. Offshore structures
3. Mining and commodity-linked companies
4. Offshore financial institutions, including private banks

These sectors continue to demonstrate increasing interest in banking and account infrastructure, although varying regulatory conditions create different onboarding requirements.

Following an accelerated first quarter, a more controlled pace would be beneficial to allow for operational consolidation and the completion of residual tasks carried over from the start of the year. Despite this, sustained activity across all major sectors is expected.

Particular challenges may arise when working with offshore private banking institutions, as this remains one of the few areas where available banking rails are limited and require tailored assessment. In contrast, the remaining sectors are projected to continue developing at a rapid rate.

The strategic priorities for Q2 focus on strengthening client expectation management and ensuring that onboarding and technical matters are handled with greater operational consistency.